Women's Squash

2017-18 Wesleyan Women's Squash Season Preview

Photo by Jonas Powell '18

Nov 29, 2017

2017-18 SEASON OUTLOOK

Ranked No. 21 in the 2017-18 Dunlop Preseason Rankings, the Wesleyan University women's squash team looks poised to have an excellent campaign. The Cardinals return 10 athletes from last year's team that finished 12-10 overall while claiming the Walker Cup Consolation Finals in the C Division of the CSA National Team Championships.

Head Coach Shona Kerr enters her 13th year at the helm of the program and looks to guide a lineup that features two seniors, five juniors, four sophomores, and three freshmen. Headlining the unit is three-time First Team All-American and the 2017 NESCAC Player of the Year, Laila Samy '18.

The 2017-18 schedule contains 10 home matches, one away contest, and five neutral site matches. It will kick-off Wednesday, Nov. 29 at No. 3 Trinity beginning at 7 p.m. and the first home match is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1 against No. 20 William Smith (6:30 p.m.). The Cardinals will host the Little Three Championships on Jan. 27. The NESCAC Championships will take place Feb. 2-5 at Hamilton and the National Team Championships will occur Feb. 16-18 at Harvard with the Individual Championships scheduled for March 2-4 at George Washington.

MEET THE TEAM:

Samy returns for his senior season as she looks to capture her first-ever national title. The three-time First Team All-American went 3-1 at the national postseason tournament a year ago to win the Consolation Finals in the Ramsay Cup (A Draw). She finished ninth overall in the country. Additionally, Samy was named the NESCAC Player of the Year and was the first non-Trinity women's player to ever receive the honor. She was also the 2015 NESCAC Rookie of the Year and has been named first team all-conference each year she's been a Cardinal. Samy finished her junior campaign with a 21-1 overall record in the No. 1 spot.

The team is loaded with experience this year and returns 10-of-12 players from last year's unit. Samy will be joined by classmate Tatum Leclair, who went 6-7 overall playing in the No. 7 and 8 positions.

The talented and veteran junior class is headlined by Sarah Clothier, Ali Imperiale and Ale Lampietti. Clothier went 7-5 playing in the No. 6-9 spots, Imperiale was 9-13 overall playing primarily in the No. 4 position, and Lampietti was 13-9 from the No. 6-9 spots including a 5-1 mark in the No. 8 position.

Four sophomores saw significant action as freshman a year ago and figure to play a prominent role in the team's success this season. Josie Russ was 12-9 last year in the No. 4-6 spots, Nina Premutico played in the No. 3 position as well as the No. 5-7 spots and finished 7-14 overall, and Sherly Francois and Sofia Melian-Morse were 7-6 and 5-2, respectively, at No. 8 and 9.